ITK Discussion The Daily ITK Discussion Thread 3rd January

[dfree]

Time to google agent fees and find that Liverpool are staggeringly ahead on that front. Managed to land Van Dijk over city and Alisson over every1. I WONDER WHY

And those two players have been instrumental in them being top, whilst we've sat on our hands and done nothing. If that's what you have to do in the modern market to sign top players we need to get with the times.

 

[Flobadob]

Any young player stupid enough to prefer the likes of City and Chelsea over the likes of Spurs, Liverpool or United is welcome to fuck off there tbh.

I’d still rather we went balls deep for De Ligt even though we’ve next to no chance.

I’ve seen this said a few times but I’m not really sure why you would want us to spend that much money on a CB when it’s arguably our best position depth wise in the entire squad and the money could be better used elsewhere? I realise he looks a fantastic talent but we have two world class CB’s and two potentially world class CB’s already at the club. Doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to me

 

[freeeki]

I’ve seen this said a few times but I’m not really sure why you would want us to spend that much money on a CB when it’s arguably our best position depth wise in the entire squad and the money could be better used elsewhere? I realise he looks a fantastic talent but we have two world class CB’s and two potentially world class CB’s already at the club. Doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to me

Because two of the above are now in their 30s and the player in question is arguably an all-time great in the making

 

[spurslenny]

For me, it's all about the money. As someone mentioned, the agents seem to be the component of the deal you need to get more onside than the actual player. And that means, as unpalatable as that is, greasing their palms and not giving them the run-around (an allegation often levelled at Levy).

It's almost as if we still need to operate with a strategy that we were doing back in 2005. Targeting the likes of Lennon, Daws, jenas and co, and developing them into first teamers, but players of a higher level and ceiling.

It's frustrating to be sure, but as we've seen with Leicester, winning a big trophy doesn't equate to being able to sign the next tier of player.

 

[Japhet]

Seems odd to me that Pulisic would turn us down (as per ITK) but then apparently signs for a team where he hasn't spoken to the Manager who, in turn, seems completely non plussed by the signing. It has a distinct whiff of a huge agents fee to me.

 

[Flobadob]

Because two of the above are now in their 30s and the player in question is arguably an all-time great in the making

Do you not agree that there are bigger priorities than another CB though? We have two CM’s that are permanently injured. Maybe if one of Jan or Toby become unreliable then I’d think it was a good idea but that’s not the case and we very much need a CM before we start blowing all our budget on one CB. If he’s looking like an all time great in the making then rest assured he won’t end up at Tottenham

 

[mil1lion]

I’ve seen this said a few times but I’m not really sure why you would want us to spend that much money on a CB when it’s arguably our best position depth wise in the entire squad and the money could be better used elsewhere? I realise he looks a fantastic talent but we have two world class CB’s and two potentially world class CB’s already at the club. Doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to me

I would agree with this. Even if Toby leaves I think we could spend the money on other areas that are weaker. It will not be long before Skipp is a regular in the squad like Winks, so Dier can cover centre back without leaving us short in midfield (he may end up back there anyway). Vertonghen and Sanchez proved during Tobys injury that they're good enough and Foyth is now ready to come in.

I would aim to replace Toby if he leaves (or sell a right back if he doesn't), Wanyama and Dembele with say a Berge, Ndombele (or equivalent cheaper option) and Grealish alternative (to cover Eriksen). Sell Janssen, Llorente and Nkoudou for a young centre forward and we'll be set for me. It would give us better overall balance in the squad without spending too much.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

When's the end of the window tbh.?

It’s never opened for us

 

[Ghost Hardware]

When's the end of the window tbh.?

12.01 01/01/2019

if your name is Daniel Levy....

 

[allatsea]

Seems odd to me that Pulisic would turn us down (as per ITK) but then apparently signs for a team where he hasn't spoken to the Manager who, in turn, seems completely non plussed by the signing. It has a distinct whiff of a huge agents fee to me.

New toy for the Chairman and possible bought to stop other clubs buying him.

 

[Mr Pink]

With future targets, we need to be prepared to go hader to secure them or this is going to become a very familiar theme.

Personally I think we are hamstrung by the stadium and can't stretch that little bit further than are competitors seemingly can.

 

[hellava_tough]

We also need to be smarter with our selling strategy.

It's pretty depressing that Toby is going to leave the club for a cut-price rate and Eriksen may do the same in the next 18 months.

Then there's Dembele who probably should have been replaced at the end of the 16/17 season, where we could have got a chunk of change for him and brought in a new up-and-coming prospect, who would last us years.

I'm also slightly worried that Verts may be out the door for next to nothing in the next 18 months (or 24 months); he hasn't signed a new deal yet. Tbh, with Verts and Toby, we were looking at a £130m+ combined valuation for them a season or two ago.

I'm not saying go crazy and sell all our best players; I understand that we need to build a winning team/squad.

However, we don't have unlimited cash like some of our rivals, so we need to make the most of our resources (players); sell big, bring in 1 or 2 excellent young prospects with monies received, rinse and repeat until we've got a squad capable of winning the title.

And if we are going to keep certain players, we need to make sure they have 3+ years on their contracts. If they haven't signed a new deal with less than 3 years left, then they should be moved on, unless there's a very specific decision not to cash in on them.

 

[allatsea]

We also need to be smarter with our selling strategy.

It's pretty depressing that Toby is going to leave the club for a cut-price rate and Eriksen may do the same in the next 18 months.

Then there's Dembele who probably should have been replaced at the end of the 16/17 season, where we could have got a chunk of change for him and brought in a new up-and-coming prospect, who would last us years.

I'm also slightly worried that Verts may be out the door for next to nothing in the next 18 months (or 24 months); he hasn't signed a new deal yet. Tbh, with Verts and Toby, we were looking at a £130m+ combined valuation for them a season or two ago.

I'm not saying go crazy and sell all our best players; I understand that we need to build a winning team/squad.

However, we don't have unlimited cash like some of our rivals, so we need to make the most of our resources (players); sell big, bring in 1 or 2 excellent young prospects with monies received, rinse and repeat until we've got a squad capable of winning the title.

And if we are going to keep certain players, we need to make sure they have 3+ years on their contracts. If they haven't signed a new deal with less than 3 years left, then they should be moved on, unless there's a very specific decision not to cash in on them.

Can you imagine the reaction on here and elsewhere if we had sold Toby and Eriksen last summer or the summer before in the case of Toby ? That is the implication of your post - new contract signed or sell - no other option.

 

[Trix]

B

Seems odd to me that Pulisic would turn us down (as per ITK) but then apparently signs for a team where he hasn't spoken to the Manager who, in turn, seems completely non plussed by the signing. It has a distinct whiff of a huge agents fee to me.

Bingo!

 

[absolute bobbins]

If our owners are incapable of signing a single target the best manager we have had in years, is it time for them or him to move on? I couldn't imagine being in a job where im constantly told the tools i require are unattainable, whist watching others get what they want.

Stick to refereeing, Lee

 

[SpartanSpur]

We also need to be smarter with our selling strategy.

It's pretty depressing that Toby is going to leave the club for a cut-price rate and Eriksen may do the same in the next 18 months.

Then there's Dembele who probably should have been replaced at the end of the 16/17 season, where we could have got a chunk of change for him and brought in a new up-and-coming prospect, who would last us years.

I'm also slightly worried that Verts may be out the door for next to nothing in the next 18 months (or 24 months); he hasn't signed a new deal yet. Tbh, with Verts and Toby, we were looking at a £130m+ combined valuation for them a season or two ago.

I'm not saying go crazy and sell all our best players; I understand that we need to build a winning team/squad.

However, we don't have unlimited cash like some of our rivals, so we need to make the most of our resources (players); sell big, bring in 1 or 2 excellent young prospects with monies received, rinse and repeat until we've got a squad capable of winning the title.

And if we are going to keep certain players, we need to make sure they have 3+ years on their contracts. If they haven't signed a new deal with less than 3 years left, then they should be moved on, unless there's a very specific decision not to cash in on them.

Sometimes these things are unavoidable. We can't force Eriksen to sign a contract, and we can't force a club to pay huge money for them when we want them to either.

This is just one of the new trends in player activity unfortunately, clubs wrangled back some power with the huge TV deals, players and agents now need the leverage of an expiring contract.

 

[Hercules]

Seems odd to me that Pulisic would turn us down (as per ITK) but then apparently signs for a team where he hasn't spoken to the Manager who, in turn, seems completely non plussed by the signing. It has a distinct whiff of a huge agents fee to me.

Archaic. Like it or not. The sporting world is changing. Pay the agent (like it or not). Gets the player. Speak to manga clubs, Liverpool, Chavs. They have accepted it. As I said, very challenging months ahead in more ways than one.

 

[robertgoulet]

Archaic. Like it or not. The sporting world is changing. Pay the agent (like it or not). Gets the player. Speak to manga clubs, Liverpool, Chavs. They have accepted it. As I said, very challenging months ahead in more ways than one.

What does an agent get for a fee on a deal like that? I'm in the wrong line of business.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

What does an agent get for a fee on a deal like that? I'm in the wrong line of business.

It will be millions, probably 3-5 at a guess. They get crazy bonuses if they have good clients and know what they are doing.

 

[King of Otters]

Archaic. Like it or not. The sporting world is changing. Pay the agent (like it or not). Gets the player. Speak to manga clubs, Liverpool, Chavs. They have accepted it. As I said, very challenging months ahead in more ways than one.

Not a question (please don't ban me, ye Gods), but it's interesting that your tone has changed so much from the wild optimism of the previous two transfer windows.

I wonder what has changed? Last year it was a hinted at sponsorship deal that was going to transform our transfer dealings, 12 months later, and we have no signings, no game-changing sponsorship deal, and, instead, 'very challenging months ahead in more ways than one'.

My guess is the stadium has fucked us financially, which is deeply ironic in a deeply depressing way as this was supposed to be the very game changer that would transform our finances for the better.